Sage & Opinion
In my mid-twenties I got into the personal development scene, and spent about ten years trying various programmes from Tony Robbins, Landmark, John Demartini, NLP et al. Some of it was useful, some of it was lacking, but I definitely benefit from it, and there is no end of the programmes, seminars, audio products and books you can buy to help yourself whilst someone else makes a fortune 😉
Whilst the topic of mental health has become a popular buzzword in capitalist societies where the fantasy of overachieving and consumerism have failed to fill the void within, I wanted to share a very brief insight from my experiences on how best to manage oneself in an era that seemingly demands more attention and effort than is humanly possible to give.
There are three main areas that work in a triad, all three must be balanced, or one can overcompensate in one area and under-develop the others. These areas are your Mental Health, Physical Health, and Emotional Health.
Mental Health
Only read, watch, indulge in that which is inspiring and good for you. I always have a good book on the go, alongside an interesting podcast or series that helps deepen my understanding of the human experience.
Meditating really paid off once I got used to it, it took me a while, but a good place to start is Eckart Tolle’s The Power of Now. I also took philosophy classes at The School of Philosophy and Economic Science in central London. This effort for my mental health really helped me observe my own mind, and become less prone to reactionary behaviour.
Physical Health
I’d love to have Bruce Lee’s physique, but I’m just not designed to have such a body without a lot of work and expense. However, I’ve found that a decent core strength level and enough energy to attend to my day is all I need. It’s easy to start small and do just enough exercise, then build it up over weeks and months by doing a little bit more where you can. This also means eating better, making sure I have just enough, but also the junk food I enjoy in small amounts. I train just enough to ensure I am firm and limber, and won’t be a liability in a zombie apocalypse. Finally, getting decent quality sleep allows the body to repair itself. Meditating before bed and soon after waking up is the best way to start and end your day.
Emotional Health
This is the newest frontier for me, as I have always taken care of the first two and not paid enough attention to my emotional health. The visceral feelings that course through our guts have an enormous impact on our wellbeing, so maintaining a stable core of self-worth is critically important. As prejudices and discrimination increase in the online sphere and into the political arena, we become more aware of how much hate there is being spewed out in all directions. We all need to feel loved, and when it is seemingly thin on the ground around us, we must cultivate it within us. Not everybody is going to like you, and not everybody has to either, so the best bet is to become your own biggest fan. I’ve become particularly mindful of the company I keep, the wrong vibe can be infectious and bring you down, whereas a good vibe uplifts everyone.
Ultimately, I endeavour each day to be the best I can be so that I might leave the world a little bit better than how I found it. And if we all did that, imagine how much better the world could become?
Yours truly,
The Super Saiyan Champion of The Universe